Locals on Bipi Island, Manus province, will undergo an operation and maintenance training of the solar power desalination plants, starting this Friday.
They will go through training on how to operate and maintain the 6 solar-powered desalination plants on Bipi before the project is formally commissioned and handed over to them.
This will also happen in the other four islands in Manus who are recipients of this water project.
National desalination project manager, Tom Anayabere, said testing, certification and commissioning will take place this Friday on Bipi Island.
“All desalination works on Bipi Island will be completed by this Sunday. Next week we will start with Mbuke Island,” Anayabere said.
Site plant tests, certification, power-up, commissioning and training for Mbuke and Whal islands will be done next week.
Nauna, Mal and Aua islands will be delivered their plant equipment in the fourth week of this month.
He also said the formal concluding ceremony for the three islands of Bipi, Mbuke and Whal, is fixed for Monday, 5th December, on Whal Island, as this is the closest island to the main Manus Island.
(Pictured are the solar-powered desalination equipment plants stored inside the M’buke Community hall in Manus. Picture courtesy of Potuku Kumalau)